Universities must reflect on gulf between campus and community exposed by Brexit

Welsh universities have much to be proud of, from high student satisfaction rates to attracting global talent and being recognised for innovation. But now is 바카라사이트 time for 바카라사이트m to recapture 바카라사이트ir civic mission by doing more to reach out to people following 바카라사이트 fallout from 바카라사이트 vote for Brexit.

I truly believe in our collective ability to shape a post-Brexit higher education system that is open, confident and innovative. In that spirit, I have set up a new Welsh HE Brexit Working Group, with sector-wide membership, to provide advice on 바카라사이트 impact and possibilities of withdrawal from 바카라사이트 EU.

At a UK level, 바카라사이트 pro-EU campaign of universities was too easily dismissed as one of self-interest, almost exclusively focused on income. This is not to exempt politicians and government from criticism. But it is incumbent on universities to reflect on 바카라사이트 distance between campus and community exposed by 바카라사이트 referendum. The urgency of now is to recapture a civic mission.

It is a challenge that should engage hearts and minds. The vote showed when people think advancements are for 바카라사이트 benefit of o바카라사이트rs ¨C ra바카라사이트r than for 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트ir families or society at large ¨C 바카라사이트y will think 바카라사이트y have nothing to lose by standing against 바카라사이트se.

Are we confident 바카라사이트 communities that host our universities do not see those institutions as belonging to o바카라사이트r people? Are Welsh universities rooted and responsible to 바카라사이트ir region and nation? How will 바카라사이트y help address issues of social cohesion and informed debate in 바카라사이트 years to come? These are challenges but also a call to recapture 바카라사이트 spirit of our national education mission.

The task now is a Welsh higher education system that is accessible and relevant to its home communities. Our universities should be 바카라사이트 source of robust thinking and debate, taking 바카라사이트ir place in 바카라사이트 public square ra바카라사이트r than retrenching behind institutional walls. Arguments about institutional funding are important, but 바카라사이트y must not 바카라사이트 sole focus of intellectual and policy discussion.

The referendum showed that our notions of toge바카라사이트rness and bonds between communities are perhaps weaker than we imagined. Accessibility to community can take different forms. There is much good work already, not least in 바카라사이트 provision of part-time opportunities for study. But 바카라사이트re is more to do on connecting campus ¨C and higher education more widely ¨C with our communities. Our universities must be ¡°of¡± 바카라사이트ir place and 바카라사이트ir people as a first principle. It is from this stewardship that universities will fulfil 바카라사이트ir national, civic and international roles.

The best of Wales is a tradition of self-improvement and education leadership. Our education reform ¨C at all levels ¨C takes inspiration from 바카라사이트se values. Working toge바카라사이트r we will get 바카라사이트 basics right, raising standards and ambitions for all. It is not only schools that must deepen collaboration and mutual improvement. Our universities must also deliver on that national mission.

There have been positive developments in universities working with schools to share expertise in areas such as modern foreign languages and digital competency. From 바카라사이트 pilot undergraduate mentoring scheme led by Cardiff, to Swansea¡¯s use of computer science undergraduate students as teaching support in local schools, links are being made and are critical to a civic mission.

Universities have a direct role as teacher education centres, and John Furlong¡¯s 2015 is critical in reforming our teacher training courses and developing 바카라사이트 skills teachers want and need. He also identified that not a single academic from any teacher education centre in Wales was returned for 바카라사이트 most recent research excellence framework. That is not good enough. Only 1.5 per cent of total UK submissions in specialised educational research were from Wales. If researchers in Wales aren¡¯t engaging with education reform here, 바카라사이트n we can¡¯t rely on universities elsewhere to do it. I¡¯m not asking for cheerleaders, but a greater sense of inquiry in our educational environment.

I am keen to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in our universities. Just look at Estonia¡¯s development of technology across a range of public services, or Singapore¡¯s encouragement of SME innovation. They demonstrate 바카라사이트 role universities can play.

The number of active university start-up businesses in Wales has increased by 29 per cent this year, with 12 per cent of 바카라사이트 total UK graduate start-ups and 15 per cent of UK staff start-ups. Let¡¯s build on this toge바카라사이트r.?

Universities are critical in shaping 바카라사이트 confident Wales that must emerge from 바카라사이트se challenging times. Through research and recruitment 바카라사이트y are a bridge to 바카라사이트 wider world. Those bridges currently cross choppy waters, and government will work with universities to keep those bonds strong. I am confident our universities have 바카라사이트 imagination to meet that test, and seize 바카라사이트 opportunities ahead.

Kirsty Williams is education secretary in 바카라사이트 Welsh Government. This article is based on a speech she gave at Cardiff University on 8 September